Pajaro River

Pajaro River Río de San Antonio, Río del Pájaro
Aerial view of the Pajaro River at Watsonville, California. The river empties into the Pacific Ocean about 2.5 miles (4 km) west of this photograph. View is to the east.
Location of mouth
Etymology	‘Bird’ in Spanish
Location
Country	United States
State	California
Region	Santa Cruz, Monterey, Santa Clara, and San Benito counties
Physical characteristics
Source	San Felipe Lake
• location	7 mi (11 km) east of Gilroy
• coordinates	36°58′55″N 121°29′18″W / 36.98194°N 121.48833°W / 36.98194; -121.48833[1]
• elevation	146 ft (45 m)
Mouth	Monterey Bay
• location	5 mi (8 km) southwest of Watsonville
• coordinates	36°51′00″N 121°48′35″W / 36.85000°N 121.80972°W / 36.85000; -121.80972[1]
• elevation	0 ft (0 m)
Length	30 mi (48 km)
Basin size	1,300 sq mi (3,400 km2)
Discharge
• location	Chittenden
• average	163 cu ft/s (4.6 m3/s)
• minimum	0 cu ft/s (0 m3/s)
• maximum	25,100 cu ft/s (710 m3/s)
Basin features
Tributaries
• left	Pacheco Creek, San Benito River
• right	Llagas Creek, Uvas Creek, Pescadero Creek, Coward Creek, Salsipuedes Creek

The Pajaro River (pájaro is bird in Spanish) is a U.S. river in the Central Coast region of California, forming part of the border between San Benito and Santa Clara Counties, the entire border between San Benito and Santa Cruz County, and the entire border between Santa Cruz and Monterey County. Flowing roughly east to west, the river empties into Monterey Bay, west of Watsonville, California.